California Adventure

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California Adventure

Destination

California

Current Grades

8th-10th

length

12 Days

view dates and prices
Airports

Arrive: San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Depart: San Francisco, CA (SFO)

This tour of the Golden State is packed with fun and adventure. You will explore the beautiful beaches in Santa Cruz, California, take in the rugged stretch of coastline, and meet some colorful critters in the beach’s nearby tidepools. Participate in a restoration project with Marin County Parks organization, and learn to climb on a secluded granite dome near Yosemite National Park. Hike to stunning waterfalls in Yosemite National Park, whitewater raft the American River, and learn to surf on quintessential northern California beaches. Finally, wrap up your adventure with a tour of San Francisco, including Fisherman’s Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge. This is one of our favorite teen adventure summer camps!

Overview Image

Itinerary

Day 1: Explore Santa Cruz

Put on your hiking boots and get ready to explore the rugged coastline of Santa Cruz. We will hike alongside giant redwood trees and get glimpses of the beautiful endless coast. If we’re lucky we’ll spot some famous banana slugs in the Santa Cruz mountains and wave to some seals in the Pacific. We’ll polish off our tour with a drive on the scenic Highway 1 along the California coastline, until we reach Manresa State Park to camp beachside under the stars.

Accommodation: Camping

Day 2: Boardwalk and Tidepool Exploration

Wake up and head into town to explore the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk! After playing some games and hopping on some rides, we will head to Natural Bridges State Park where we will explore tide pools and learn about some sea critters native to the California Coast. We’ll play games on the beach and watch surfers shred the waves and pick up some techniques as we prepare for our own surf lessons.
Accommodation: Camping

Day 3: Marin County Service Project

Head up the coast to Marin County for a day of community service with the Marin County Parks preservation and restoration program. You will learn about local species and work to restore their habitats by removing invasive European beachgrass, ice plants, Monterey pine, and Monterey cypress. We will learn about the area’s hydrological function and how removing these species helps build resilience around sea levels rising. We will get our hands dirty and gain a greater appreciation for the natural environment while taking in some beautiful coastal views.
Accommodation: Camping

Day 4-5: Learn to Surf on Stinson Beach

Known by locals as the most beginner-friendly surf spot in the area, we’ll spend two days on Stinson Beach receiving professional surf instruction. You’ll learn techniques, water safety and awareness, and etiquette before paddling out to watch for the perfect line. These mellow waves are so reliable, it’s not unusual to catch 20 to 30 lines in a day!
Accommodation: Camping

Day 6-7: EXPLORE YOSEMITE AND GIANT SEQUOIAS

Next, we’ll head inland toward Yosemite National Park. After traveling up into the mountains, we’ll pile in the vans and take a short drive to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, where more than 500 of the world’s oldest evergreens reside. Their branches are up to eight feet thick, while their bases can reach 40 feet in diameter! Just north of Mariposa is the famous Yosemite Valley, where we’ll marvel at the 3,000-foot-tall granite walls and hike Nevada Falls, which towers almost 600 feet above the valley floor. Its turbulent, powerful waters create a refreshing mist that’s sure to cool you off after a day of hiking!
Accommodation: Camping

Day 8: Rock Climbing at Fresno Dome

After exploring the park for a couple of days, we’ll be exploring the granite domes of Yosemite from a more vertical angle. We won’t be hanging out with throngs of tourists, though; instead, we’ll escape the summer heat and crowds and head to Fresno Dome, sitting above 7,000 feet in elevation. Learn the ins and outs of rock climbing on the smooth Sierra granite; you’ll even get to belay your peers! Fun fact: Climbing legend Royal Robbins spent much of his time developing routes here.
Accommodation: Camping

Day 9-10: Whitewater Raft the American River

Don’t be intimidated by the South Fork of the American River’s rapids named “Troublemaker” and “Satan’s Cesspool”—you’ll drop these lively class III rapids with ease with the help of professional raft guides. On the calmer sections, you’ll get to try your hand at stand-up paddle-boarding! Hemmed in by the rolling hills of the Sierra Nevada, you’ll see relics of history: gold discovery on its shores triggered the California Gold Rush of 1849.
Accommodation: Camping

Day 11-12: Explore San Francisco

We will walk the entirety of Fisherman’s Wharf, a historic fishing village turned tourist destination. While walking past clam chowder cafes and street performers, we will make our way to Pier 39 to see the vivacious Californa Sea Lions in residence! With the Sea Lion bark echoing across the bay, we will make our way up the 209 steps to the top of Coit Tower. From there, we will have a view over the entire city and a sneak peek of what we will see next, like the West Coast’s oldest operating lighthouse and the beautiful Gardens of Golden State Park. Then we’ll take in the beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge before admiring Ghirardelli Square and picking up some namesake chocolate!

Accommodation: Camping

*Listed above is Bold Earth’s intended itinerary for this trip. All itineraries are subject to change in order to provide the best possible program quality.

Dates and Prices

Departure 1
  • Departure Day
    06/06/24
  • Return Day
    06/17/24
  • Grade
    8-10
  • Price
    $4,188
  • Availability
    Open
Departure 1
  • Departure Day
    06/30/24
  • Return Day
    07/11/24
  • Grade
    8-10
  • Price
    $4,188
  • Availability
    Limited
Departure 1
  • Departure Day
    07/29/24
  • Return Day
    08/09/24
  • Grade
    8–10
  • Price
    $4,188
  • Availability
    Limited
Departure Day Return Day Grade Price Availability
06/06/24
06/17/24
8-10
$4,188
open
06/30/24
07/11/24
8-10
$4,188
limited
07/29/24
08/09/24
8–10
$4,188
limited

Accommodations & Service

Community Service: Approximately 5 Hours
  • Marin County service project: Removing invasive species and environment awareness.
Accommodations:
  • 11 nights of camping. All campgrounds have running water and bathroom facilities on site. Bold Earth will provide comfortable 4-person tents.

Activities

Community service: 5 hours

Hiking

Rock climbing

Sightseeing

Surfing

Whitewater rafting

Reviews

Zilin, student from Beachwood, OH

Whitewater rafting was super exciting, and my boat crew had tons of fun. Hanging out around camp and playing games together was also extremely fun, and I had a great time bonding and sharing experiences with everyone.

Paul H, parent from Chicago, IL

This was our daughter’s first experience with going away to camp. She went in knowing no one and was excited for the opportunity to make new connections. My wife and I were excited for the call you get after a few days in. One of the first comments from this call was “I don’t want to leave.” Needless to say she was having the time of her life!

Our daughter loved all of the outdoor activities she encountered and made lifelong friendships. The counselors were INCREDIBLE! We’re are so grateful to the trip leaders and to everyone at Bold Earth!

Connor, student from Darien, CT

My favorite part about the trip was the variety of activities and places we visited and participated in. Every day we were doing something different, which made the trip really exciting and engaging.

Ronan, student from Brooklyn, NY

I love what Bold Earth is about. It was the perfect experience for me, as I want to help out the Earth in any way that I can, and Bold Earth does exactly that. Plus, the activities are super fun. I really loved the rock climbing and the surfing. Two awesome experiences, but it definitely doesn’t compare to the friendships that you make not only with the people there, but also the trip leaders. I’d recommend Bold Earth to people who want to have fun, help the earth, and people who love to camp.

Alix T, parent from Downington, PA

Sarah had a great time, connected with people, and gained confidence. Bold Earth was easy to reach, answered questions promptly, and worked with us when travel plans went awry.

Tennille S, parent from Jacksonville, FL

It was very exciting to hear about Blythe’s trip when she got home. I think this was a great experience for her, and I definitely recommend Bold Earth to everyone.

Lisa G, parent from Durham, NC

This was a life-changing experience for our daughter – Bold Earth provided an opportunity to grow beyond herself, test her independence in a new environment and with new people, and build self-reliance.

CJ, student from Wyckoff, NJ

Bold Earth greatly increased my curiosity and the desire to travel more.  Seeing such amazing things on the trip has shown me that there is so much that I have yet to see.

Chris W, parent from Brooklyn, NY

My son had a blast! As a parent I could NOT have been more impressed. I have taken every opportunity to sing Bold Earth’s praises to other parents I know. 100% positive the whole experience.